NAHT Cymru comments on vaccines for 16 and 17-year-olds

Commenting as the government seems set to offer the Covid vaccine to 16 and 17-year-olds, Laura Doel, director of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said: “The debate about whether or not to vaccinate older children has been raging for many weeks. NAHT Cymru has always said that Welsh Government policy on child vaccination should be led by clinicians. To the extent that any such policy is controversial, it is clear that schools should not carry any responsibility for vaccination promotion, enforcement or policing.

“Regardless of the extent that young people might suffer directly from the virus, the large numbers of pupils absent from school at the end of last term showed that Covid still has the power to affect the quality and continuity of the education they receive. That is a continuing worry for school leaders.

“Given that last week the Welsh Government announced the removal of specific Covid mitigation measures like staggered start times, self-isolation for close contacts and face coverings, we continue to urge ministers to ensure that alternative safety measures are put in place, such as better ventilation and a properly functioning test and trace system that takes into account how schools function. Proposals that do not appreciate how teaching and learning is delivered in schools are useless.

“The Welsh Government needs to take every possible step to prevent transmission of the virus amongst people in school communities, no matter their age. Just because younger learners specifically are less likely to have and transmit the virus, it does not mean they don’t play a role in the spread of the virus.

“As ever, it will be a matter of public confidence in whatever these measures are deemed to be, so the government also has a duty to communicate carefully and clearly in order to avoid any more unnecessary disruption and missed education for pupils.”